NFL declines further discipline for Dak Prescott after spitting incident that led to Jalen Carter ejection

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will not face further discipline from the NFL after footage surfaced showing him spit on the ground before the first play of the Week 1 meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said.

Video from the season opener captured Prescott appearing to spit on the sideline before the snap, an action that drew the attention of Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Carter confronted Prescott on the field and then spat at the quarterback; officials flagged Carter for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected him from the game during the opening sequence.

The NFL later fined Carter $57,222 — an amount equal to his game check — and did not reverse the in-game ejection, the league confirmed. Schefter reported that Prescott will not receive any additional punishment related to the incident.

Officials ruled at the time that Carter’s actions violated unsportsmanlike-conduct rules, which carries an automatic ejection when deemed sufficiently egregious on the field. The fine issued to Carter was announced after the league reviewed the confrontation that unfolded before the game’s opening series.

The incident drew immediate attention because it occurred before the teams had run a play, briefly overshadowing the season opener between two NFC East rivals. Prescott has been a prominent figure in Dallas' offense since becoming the team's starting quarterback, and Carter entered the season as one of the Eagles' key defensive players after being selected early in the NFL draft.

Neither the Cowboys nor the Eagles issued extended public statements detailing additional internal discipline within the hours after the league’s decision was reported. The NFL’s action affirmed the in-game ruling and imposed a monetary penalty on Carter, while leaving Prescott without further league sanction.

The confrontation and the league’s response are likely to renew attention on player conduct rules and how officials and the league office handle incidents that occur before the snap. The teams will next meet on their regular-season schedules, where any lingering tensions will be settled on the field under the league’s standard disciplinary framework.